The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-01
NATIONAL POSTAL SERVICE
A Synopsis of the Annual Report Sub
mitted by Postmaster-General Villas.
Steady Growth of the Service, Which Is Now
Almost lf-Sustaining-Suggest In
tended to Lead to Further Improvement.

reated in the annual report of Postmaster gen.
pral Villas have already been presented TO news
paper readers through the reports OF suoordinates
his department, and in the subjoined synopsis
those topics omitted. The Postmaster-gen-
,ral says:
THE expectation of growth and improvement
n the affairs of the postal service. induiged in
previous reports has been realized during the
past year. In part arising from extension of
the limits of mailable of the fourth class
ordered to meet the requirements Of trade
and from the receipts of the speciadelivery serv-
Ice, but chiefly from the greater employment
of all postal facilities consequent upon the rls-
sng business osperity of the country, faithfully
reflected IN the postal service. the revenues have
gained upon the preceding year by nearly
81, Sac, 600. attaining height nevar reached be-
fore. despite the restrictive operations OF vari-
Gus reductions in the rates OF postage. Upon
the other hand. the study OF economy has not
been without effect in restraining the necessari-
~ rising scale of expenditure. so tnat the IN
crease of cash disbursements has hut little over
stepped 81, 600 000 Thus the deficiency charged
upon the general treasury, which two years
since was q round millions and year
ago but about seventy thousand less, has been
reduced almost three-sevenths, while the fair
augury from present circumstances gives
bope that during the curront year IL will nearly
If not entirely disappear. If there shall remain
1t the years end any excess of cash expenditure
above the receipts, 1t can not be but less thar
the postage upon the mail matter of the govern
ment itself, estimated to be atleast two millions
annually, and reasonably its debt to the postal
service. 1t may therefore, be fairly affirmed that
from the beginning of the current fiscal year the
postal service has again become substantially
Belf-sustaining; and the prediction be ventured
hat il the revenues be not further crippled
and only a similar ratio of increasing expendi
ture be Eeld, the next fiscal year will yield
surplus. which should, under the same condi-
tions, annually increase
1.-THE paramount duty of the government
far concerns this department, is to furnish
the most perfect and useful postal facilities to
Ihe people. within the authority of the Consti
k.-k1a f,.1L% 49, ell 81 do
is due to the character of the citizens of this
country, to their freedom and enlghtenmenr to
their enterprise and activity, to their wealth
and power, and especially to the intimacy of
their personal relations maintained
great cxpanse of territory to extent never
squaled, hardly aimed at. elsewhere on the
globe, from which arise the fraternity of feeling
and community of interest that furnish the
safest guarantees for the future stability and
value of our federal institutions It is indeed,
their due as a personal: individual right, be-
cause the government monopoIizes the postal
business, and forbids them all other attempts at
self-service. Upon every ground the postal
service rightfully urges constant and exacting
demand upon legislative and executive wisdom
and labor for it's enlargement and improvement
to the utmost Of peyfectibility The
prosperity of the service 10 the prosperity OF the
postoffices, and the gains of the year are marked
in their Advancement The number of salaried
Offices at it's beginning WAS, of the first class,
10; of the second, AGO. and of the third, ], 769;
total of 2, pa Of the presidential classes. By
the annual review and readjustment. based
upon the returns of their business for the four
quarters ended with March 81, 1887, it was dis
closed that the LIST day of July the net gains
of the several classes were in the first. 80 in
the second, and so in the third; making respect
i've totals of 81 the first, 435 in the second,
and 1,819 in the third; in all. 1885, net in
Grease of 90. This showing indicates less than
the real facts because there were other Offices
entitled TO advancement from the fourth to the
third class, which, by delays in the necessary
reports, were postponed until the next quarter
And on the Ist of October there were added to
fhaf NIa off nv
80 law. thus making the total number of the
third class at the time of this report. /, 1884, and
OF all presidential offices, 2.381 the highest yet
reached in the history of the department
1.-THE appointments of pOstmasters numbered
altogether during the fiscal year 13. 079. of which
6663 were to fill vacancies happening upon the
expiration of commissions or by resignations
1854 upon removals or suspensions; $50 by
death, and 3,043 to newly established Offices
Among these appointments. 1893 were upon your
commission 30 vacancies which happened from
the and in the respective numbers fol-
lowing By expiration of commission, $50; by
resignation, 122; by removal or suspension. 237
by DEATH &c. and upon the assignment of
fourth class Offices to presidential class, AS.
On the 7th of March, 1885. the entire number of
she fourth-class Offices OH. The new es-
Establishments since have been $500, of which "a
in the fiscal 1885, 3,482 in 1886. and 3 DAB IN
1887; and the disconrinuances in the correspond
ing periods were r. ], 120, and 800 respective
iy. total of 2 692. besides net addition to the
presidential classes of 103, leaving the number
In the fourth-class on the lst day of July last,
H..
Aumber of appointments have been &c. 52. -"
1.-THE division of postoffces into two general
Sasses-by stineuehine those the i'm portance
and magnitude of whose business is such to
require independent and separate maintenance
from those which can properly be carried on in
connection with private business-lmplies that
the former be regarded and treated entirely as
government Offices in every particular of their
affairs. This consequence is demanded by the
soundsst principles of public business and its
recognition appears to promise far more salts
then become the care Of the department, be pro-
vded and equipped, supplied and maintained at
measured by the nature of the RESPONSIBILITIES
and duties imposed upon him. His time and
labor reasonably exacsed belong then to the
government, to be applied not only to proper
supervision but such other duties of his Office
as their NAV enable the proper discharge of
by him personally; and for the excess of neces-
sary service required the proper provision of
clerks devolves upon the department
''The consideration OF ths principles aad the
arrangement of a system adapted to the suitable
provision of quarters, equipment, and clerical
ministration of such offices, become then in
dependent subject of departmental care, not in
volved with the adjustment OF the pos'masters
nor subject to the detriment
almost inevitably resulting from making them
charge upon him. Somewhat farther on shall
venture to propose some suggestions these
points It is obvious at once that the correct
settlement of scheme for salaries, while per-
haps necessarily to be graduated with some
reference to the volume or business, depends !
upon a correct measurement of the character of |
the responsibilities imposed on, and personal |
duties be exacted of, postmasters in the |
various Offices. The lowest salary ought not, |
now, to be fixed at the maximum allowed the |
highest grade of the commission paid post
masters. but at a sufficiently lesser figure to
ognize adequately that commissions are designed !
to cover the expenses of tho Office well the |
compensation. Thus, in such a d. |
vision, the largest commissions might yield q |
Yearly aggregate of nearly 81. 400 & business |
npproxmating SO. 900. But after his Office enters
he salared class, and the expense of it becomes
n departmental charge, the postmaster who col |
lects gross receipts from So 900 to $4,000 will |
perhaps be sufficiently remunerated by clear
salary of 81. 900. and the graduation rise thence
for ward in proper proportions.
t'The value of subdIyisi of the saaried class
Jan not be great. are specially useful results
promised to it. There is, however. a line which
naturally separates these into classes. In the
aree Offices of the service. perhaps such as receive